“What do y’all have to sell?” Ren Xiaosu asked, “Isn’t Stronghold 178 said to be a very desolate place?”
“The area around us is indeed very desolate,” Xu Xianchu replied. “But there are still many things that I can’t talk about for now. It’s a secret.”
At the mention of it being a secret, Ren Xiaosu felt it could be something very important. Otherwise, Xu Xianchu would not be so serious about it.
“Oh, is the Northwest safe?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“Sometimes it’s safe, sometimes it’s not.” Xu Xianchu smiled and said, “It really depends on the situation. But recently to the north… forget it, I can’t talk about that either”
“Alright then.” Ren Xiaosu had a feeling that Stronghold 178 was keeping a secret and that secret had something to do with Zhang Jinglin’s departure from Stronghold 178. But what exactly was it that made Zhang Jinglin feel like it was meaningless for him to stay behind in Stronghold 178?
Zhang Jinglin had once said to Yan Liuyuan that war would not save humanity.
What did he really mean when he said that?
However, that didn’t really have anything to do with Ren Xiaosu. He looked at Xu Xianchu and said, “Hmm… have you heard of anything recently?”
Xu Xianchu was taken aback. “Hear about what?”
“Haha,” Ren Xiaosu laughed. “It’s nothing important.”
Then, Xu Xianchu said, “Oh yes, I have some big news to share with you. My original power was to summon a shadow clone, y’know?”
“Mhm.” Ren Xiaosu nodded. “I know.”
“The shadow I summon has gained an additional cauldron!” Xu Xianchu said excitedly, “This cauldron is so strong it can even block an RPG!”
Xu Xianchu then summoned his shadow. It stood quietly in the yard with a large black cauldron floating behind it.
It was extremely large, so large that it could even envelop an entire person.
Ren Xiaosu stared blankly at the cauldron. “Damn…”
Xu Xianchu looked particularly excited. “Don’t look down on this black cauldron. Y’know, it can be used as a shield against bullets and also to smack people. It’s infinitely powerful and there are many wonderful uses for it as well. I can even use it to stir-fry vegetables! When I lead troops out to the Gobi, we don’t even have to bring along a mess kit. How convenient!”
“Mhm, it is convenient,” Ren Xiaosu said.
Ren Xiaosu suddenly felt that the cauldron looked very familiar. Wasn’t it a larger version of the black iron cauldron he had used for catching sparrows?
Wait a minute! When Ren Xiaosu took a more careful look, he suddenly felt very uncomfortable, because he noticed a small crack in Xu Xianchu’s cauldron. Back then, his metal cauldron had formed a small crack when he accidentally knocked it over. However, it did not really affect the functionality. This was a power the shadow formed on its own. So how could there be a crack?
Ren Xiaosu’s expression grew concerned and weirder. Meanwhile, Xu Xianchu was still showing off his power. “It might be because my power is getting stronger, so the cauldron is also becoming bigger. I wonder how big it can get in the future. If I can even use it to block an artillery shell, that would be even better!”
Ren Xiaosu said with mixed feelings, “Yeah, it will grow bigger….”
Ren Xiaosu realized Xu Xianchu’s cauldron must have appeared after he pushed the blame onto Xu Xianchu. And as he pushed even more blame onto Xu Xianchu, the cauldron would just get bigger and bigger. He did not know why, but since Xu Xianchu wanted the cauldron to grow bigger, he would naturally have to help him fulfill his wish as a friend.
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But as for why? Ren Xiaosu could not understand it at all. So as long as he pushed the blame onto Xu Xianchu, it would result in Xu Xianchu conjuring up a cauldron?
What was the principle behind that? There was absolutely no logic!
From the other yard, Luo Lan suddenly said, “Oh yes, Old Xu, thank you.”
Luo Lan was leaning against the wall and seemed like he was about to say something. However, Ren Xiaosu suddenly roared, “Can’t you go back and sleep already? I’m talking with my friend here, so don’t keep bringing up your Qing Consortium’s matters and interrupting us. Isn’t it already clear that they aren’t gonna form an alliance with the Yang Consortium?”
Luo Lan cursed as he retracted his head back down. The soldiers who were charged with carrying him behind the wall let out sighs of relief.
It was only when Ren Xiaosu saw Luo Lan leave that he heaved a sigh of relief. He was a little worried Luo Lan would suddenly mention how “Old Xu” had saved his life back at Stronghold 109.
If he brought that up, Xu Xianchu would definitely understand everything!
Xu Xianchu looked utterly confused. “Why did he thank me?”
Ren Xiaosu chuckled and said, “Maybe he’s thanking you for not forming an alliance with the Yang Consortium. Don’t worry about the details.”
“Hm, alright.” Xu Xianchu suddenly whispered, “Xiaosu, why don’t you follow me back to Stronghold 178? The people there are really nice. I’ve lived in the stronghold before, so I know how the people in Stronghold 178 are different.”
Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and asked, “How many people can you bring?”
“How many of you are there?” Xu Xianchu asked.
“30,” Ren Xiaosu replied.
“Then I can’t make that decision.” Xu Xianchu frowned and said, “I’m mainly here to negotiate with the Yang Consortium. Why don’t l go back to Stronghold 178 next week and inform Commander Zhang about this.”
Ren Xiaosu considered it seriously and said, “Sure.”
But after tonight, once Yang Yu’an realized how important Ren Xiaosu really was, he would most probably not allow him to leave so easily. However, Ren Xiaosu was well-prepared now. One plan was to follow Luo Lan when Qing Zhen came to rescue him, while the other plan was to rely on the successful negotiations between Xu Xianchu and Zhang Jinglin and the Yang Consortium.
No matter which plan succeeded, he would have to seize the opportunity. Only one thing made Ren Xiaosu hesitate. But it didn’t matter as he still had time.
…
Xu Xianchu’s arrival seemed to have added some small episodes to Ren Xiaosu’s life, and it also gave him another possibility to consider for his future.
However, Xu Xianchu did not stay at Stronghold 88 for too long. After he, the Yang Consortium, and the Zong Consortium had agreed to eradicate the bandits, he immediately headed back to give his report.
Someone found the opportunity to ask him about his relationship with Ren Xiaosu. In the end, Xu Xianchu only said he was indebted to Ren Xiaosu, and that it was Ren Xiaosu who hooked him up with Stronghold 178.
With that revelation, a lot of people were stunned. What was Ren Xiaosu’s background? He could even recommend people to go to Stronghold 178?
As a matter of fact, it was quite difficult for someone living in the stronghold to arrange a job for their relatives. But somehow, Ren Xiaosu could leapfrog the chain of command of the stronghold and promote someone to officer?
However, as Xu Xianchu did not mention the details, everyone did not know how Ren Xiaosu managed to do it.
After Xu Xianchu left, Ren Xiaosu’s life returned back to normal. It was not yet time for Yang Xiaojin and him to go out to exterminate the bandits, but he was still very happy to study and practice hand-to-hand combat every day.
The only surprise was that the woman named Zhou Yingxue appeared again after disappearing for a week. Moreover, the woman seemed to have made up her mind to follow Ren Xiaosu all the time. She would be at the library whenever Ren Xiaosu went there.
Ren Xiaosu guessed it must have been Yang Yu’an who had ordered her to get close to him again to fish for some useful information.